[Ohio]

Originally Posted by SpeakersCorner

Hi, Ohio. I would like to respond obliquely, if you’ll permit. You may read into my response however you wish. As a Hoosier I have had a complicated relationship with a legendary figure here (who originally came from your territory, Ohio), one Bobby Knight. Actually, I have no relationship with Knight since I didn’t personally know him but I’m a big college hoops fan, I coached high school sports in the state (never basketball but I rubbed shoulders constantly with b-ball coaches), and it’s hard not to have a “complicated relationship” under those circumstances.

Early on I hated the guy but actually it was more the worship of him I despised. Indiana basketball coaches in the 70s and 80s revered him to a level that was near idol worship. “Defense! Discipline!” was the mantra, that and his “motion” offense. Me being a pretty undisciplined person by nature and a lover of offense over defense, it wasn’t hard to dislike the guy. Further, as the 90s rolled into play and speed and athleticism began to trump all in college hoops, Bobby dug in deeper, refusing to change with the times. His record began to decline.

Well, over the years I changed my views of him. Again, it was for a variety of reasons. But one factor really stood out for me: Bobby Knight hearkened back to a time when certain virtues like discipline and self-sacrifice were uplifted. The fact that he personally failed many of his own virtue values in many ways does not take away from him uplifting them. I uplift the virtues of Christ, most of which I fail daily.

When Coach Knight passed this year, I shed tears. Could I have survived playing for him? Probably not. But with his passing a world, partly real, partly mere nostalgia, passed with him. Indiana is a state known for its love of basketball and its achievements in that arena but if you check the banners hanging at Assembly Hall in Bloomington the most recent one is dated 1987.

Too long a response, I know. And probably too oblique. But perhaps you will read something into it that explains my view of our dear brother TC.

I get it. I understand. Knight was a legend in Hoosier Nation. So were Woody Hayes and Joe Paterno.